Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Babar, Shan hundreds put Pakistan in box seat in Rawalpindi

Pakistan opener Shan Masood and batting mainstay Babar Azam smashed individual hundreds to put the hosts in charge of the first test against Bangladesh after dominating day two at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Babar capitalised on an early reprieve to score a career-best 143 not out when bad light forced early stumps with Pakistan 109 ahead with seven wickets remaining.

Babar raised 137 runs for the burgeoning fourth wicket stand with Asad Shafiq (60) who looked on course to be the third centurion in the Pakistan innings.

Abu Jayed claimed two wickets for Bangladesh who endured a tough day after managing a below-par first innings total of 233 on Friday.

Abu drew first blood when he dismissed opener Abid Ali for a duck in the second over and went on to claim the wicket of home captain Azhar Ali who made 34.

Babar was on three when Ebadat Hossain dropped him off Taijul Islam and it proved a costly mistake as the right-hander went on to forge century-plus partnerships with Shan and Asad.

Shan made 100, which included 11 boundaries, before being bowled by Taijul.

Babar and Asad then feasted on Bangladesh's wayward attack, scoring at nearly four-an-over during their unbroken stand.

Babar hit 19 boundaries and a six to keep alive his hopes of a maiden test double century.

The second test of the split series will be played in Karachi from April 5.

(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.